Cancer of the major salivary glands is relatively rare, and little is known about its etiology.

The only established risk factors are radiation exposure and a prior cancer.

The role of diet in the development of salivary gland tumors has not been addressed previously.

The results from a population-based case-control study conducted in the greater San Francisco-Monterey Bay area examining the association between dietary intake and salivary gland cancer risk are presented.

Of 199 cases diagnosed with salivary gland tumors between 1989 and 1993,150 (75%) were interviewed.

Nine cases were subsequently excluded based on review of pathology specimens.